Pats "Dropped" The Ball and Some NHL Trade Suggestions

I am totally disgusted with the way that game ended yesterday. I can't believe the Giants were able to pull it off because the Patriots receivers were simply not able to hold on to the ball (and their best receiver, Gronkowski, was a shadow of himself - Thanks POLLARD!!! You DOUCHE BAG!!!). Brady outplayed Manning and, again, he was able to get a couple of calls to go his way to secure a win (sorry but that was NOT intentional grounding....what was the official thinking?!?!).

That is the last time I will mention the Giants win because, quite frankly, they didn't deserve it and, to paraphrase a line from the Count of Monte Cristo...."I Don't like the world we live in when Eli Manning has beaten Tom Brady in the Super Bowl...twice"

On to something to change my thought process: The NHL Trade deadline is fast approaching and I have a few suggestions for a couple of teams that are on the rebuild and a couple of others that need a jolt to make the playoffs.


Trade Proposal #1: Three Team deal...

Montreal gets: Center Jeff Carter, Columbus 2nd round pick

Vancouver gets: Defenceman PK Subban, Goalie Steve Mason

Columbus gets: Goalie Cory Scheider, Center Scott Gomez

Seems a bit tricky but here's the thing: Each team needs to make this deal for several reasons. For Montreal, it's a lost season, plain and simple. They started slow, blamed an assistant coach for their trouble and fired him. Then, when things still didn't get any better, they fired their coach and created more controversy by hiring Randy Cunneyworth as the interim coach. Only problem was he doesn't speak any french which is a major issue in Quebec.

Then there is of course the ongoing issues whenever PK Subban does anything. He can't do or say anything right it would seem as he even gets blistered in the Montreal papers over his actions (or in-actions) of practice. Add to that the fact that another of their players has played so poorly that he has angered fans to the point where they have a website that has an ongoing tracker to show how long its' been since he scored his last NHL regular season goal (it's up over a year now, and counting Gomez)and another player mouthed off about the team playing and acting like losers and was traded the next day (Mike Cammallari).

With all these issues, the team has just flat lined and now finds itself in last place in the Eastern Conference.

Then there is the plight of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who spent to the max with regards to the NHL Salary cap this off-season, only to get off to their worst start in franchise history at 0-7-1. Their goal tending has been crap for over 2 years now as Steve Mason (after his great rookie year) seemed to think things would be simple from then on and has either taken summers off to drink himself stupid or has totally lost the magic he had that year. Their top off season acquisitions in terms of talent and contract value (Jeff Carter and his 12 year, $5.27 million per year deal and James Wiesniewski and his 4 year, $22 million total deal) have been mostly hurt (Carter) or both suspended and hurt (Wiesniewski).

Vancouver has been just as good as they were last year at the same point in the season. The only thing they seem to need is that trigger man on the power play and their only real bargaining chip is their Back up goalie, Cory Schnieder, who has played like a #1 goalie in waiting. Only problem is that in Vancouver, he would be waiting another few years before that would happen and, given how perilously close the Canucks were to winning it all last year, it would be best of them to make a move now when they are in a position of strength, to bolster their back line, before their window of opportunity to win it all closes.

Vancouver could certainly use a player like PK on their PP. While Mason is a downgrade when compared to
Schneider, Mason needs the change of scenery and playing behind Luongo might be what it takes to get him back on track. Montreal would get the chance to reboot with a big, young, talented center and get rid of 2 media whipping boys in the process, while Columbus would get a proven NHL level #1 goalie and a chance to get out from under the massive contract of Carter's and only have 1 year left of Gomez deal to worry about.

Personally, I would think this could be a win-win-win deal for all parties involved.



Trade Proposal #2: Leafs Deal for Ryan Getzlaf, Sign Grabo 

Leafs get: Ryan Getzlaf

Anaheim gets: Tyler Bozak, Luke Schenn and Nazem Kadri

To put it bluntly, Ryan Getzlaf has been a shadow of his former self since he hurt his ankle 6 weeks before the 2010 Olympic Hockey tourny. He hasn't produced at nearly the same clip as he was doing so before and, despite the fact that Corey Perry won the Hart Trophy (League MVP) and Rocket Richard Trophy (Most Goals scored) last year, Getzlaf really wasn't mentioned all that much in terms of being his setup man.

This year, he has struggled defensively as he is in the negative double digits in terms of his plus/minus for the year (very bad) and the team has struggled for the most part (their 9-1-1 record prior to the all-star break notwithstanding). He needs a change of scenery and the team needs to go into the rebuild mode. If they continue to refuse to deal Teemu Selannne, the ageless wonder and their best player by far, then Getzlaf would be the best bet to get dealt since he would be able to get them a few of the needed pieces they need to start over.

Nazem Kadri has world class talent. Everyone who has ever seen him play knows that to be a fact. He just has not gotten a fair shake with the Leafs and, given the depth the team now has, it's time to use that depth to give him a chance somewhere else and improve the team overall. Dealing him to Anaheim will give him a chance to flourish while playing with Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. Luke Schenn, while a solid contributor to the team, is simply not gong to be a top 4 guy on this team now that they have added John-Michael Liles and Cody Fransen this off season and with the growth of Carl Gunnarsson. As well, the Leafs have a dearth of good, young Defenceman on their way up through the organizational ranks that they can, again, deal from a position of strength to improve their overall talent base.

Tyler Bozak is having a career year, which means that given he is 26 years old and projects out to be a 2nd line center (at best), it's best he gets dealt now and ends up on the West coast as well, playing between Teemu and Saku Koivu on the Ducks. This deal could help both teams immensely, both now and in the future.

While all these players change teams, the Leafs would then sign Mikail Grabovski to a new 4 year deal at a good $4.125 million per season, anchoring the teams 2nd line with a solid 2 way player at a fair deal for both player and team.


Trade Proposal #3: Leafs deal Komisarek

Leafs get: James Van Riemsdyke

Philly gets: Mike Komisarek and a 1st round pick in this year's draft.

Leafs get some salary cap room as Mike hasn't been playing lately and doesn't fit in to the teams' long term plans. This deal opens up a spot for Keith Aulie to jump into the NHL line-up on a permanent basis. The Flyers need NHL depth at defence and he would be a great fit for them. Dealing away JVR would hurt in the short term for them (and creates a really strong 3rd line for the Leafs as they would have JVR with Connolly and Lombardi) but with Pronger probably being forced to retire, they could really use a tough, mean defender to help them in the playoffs.



Trade Proposal #4: Boston Gets Ruutu, Bryan Allen from Carolina

Boston gets: Tuomo Ruutu, Bryan Allen

Carolina gets: Andy McQuaid, Daniel Paille, Zach Hamill and a 2nd round pick

Boston looks like they are about to make another run at the Cup and they have the depth to go ahead and pull off this type of deal. Bringing in a guy like Ruutu to bolster their top 6 forwards just seems to perfect. He may be a Finn, but he plays the game like a Bruin. He has an edge to his game, he hits, he scores and he isn't afraid to mix it up with just about anyone.

Dealing a solid 3rd line player in Paille and up and coming defender in McQuaid will hurt but the sting will be lessened if they can get their names on the Cup for a 2nd straight year.




Trade Proposal #5: Oilers deal Hemsky and Horcoff in 2 Separate Deals

Oilers get: Nikita Filatov and two 2nd round picks

Ottawa gets: Ales Hemsky

Oilers get: Daniel Carcillo, Rostislav Olesz, Hawks 2nd round pick this year

Hawks get: Shawn Horcoff


Both of these current Oiler players are not going to be in the long term plans for the team so it's best to get something for them now while the team still can. If the team is serious that they want to continue to build through the draft, then they could use the 3 extra 2nd round picks to move up (if they want) in the draft or to just build more organizational depth. Of the 3 players they would get in these 2 deals, only one (Carcillo) would jump into their NHL lineup as Olesz is in the minors and Filatov is in Russia.

The Hawks dealt for Brendan Morrison earlier last week but from all accounts, he is done. They could really use the talent upgrade that adding Shawn Horcoff to their lineup would do for them. With the talent they have on that team, a 2nd line with Horcoff between Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa to follow their first line of Kane, Toews and Stallberg leaves David Bolland centering another potent line with Andrew Brunnette and Michael Frolik....Can you say Cup Final for the Hawks? If they ever get their goal tending in order, it's a real possibility.

Ottawa getting Hemsky seems a bit odd but it's a no risk deal since his contract is up at the end of the year and they could certainly use the talent upgrade on their forward lines if they want to have a chance at staying in the playoff race.

This would also free up the Oilers to keep Sam Gagner. In case you haven't heard of the kid, he is the 22 year old Oiler center who had a career in a night when he had 8 points (4 goals and 4 assists) Friday night against the Blackhawks and has continued to play at a torrid pace, getting 4 more points in his next 4+ periods ever since. He had been having a horrible season until injuries forced him to play on the 1st line with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle. The results have been tremendous and they are showing the Oiler brass that maybe they can use him in a more offensive roll as a 2nd line center going into next season.

Got any other ideas? Disagree with mine? Let me know what you think.....